Device for stripping leaves from sugar-cane



(No Model.)

B. ROHR. DEVICE FOR STRIPPING LEAVES FROM SUGAR CANE. No. 449,137.Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

RICHARD ROHR, OF MILLSTADT, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR STRIPPENG LEAVES FROM SUGAR-CANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,137, dated March31, 1891.

Application filed December 12, 1890. Serial No. 374,434. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD ROHR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Millstadt, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forStripping Leaves from Sugar-Cane; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for stripping the leavesfrom sugarcane; and its object is to provide a simple and efficientdevice which will readily accommodate itself to the diameter of thestalk, and by the use of which all leaves and other projections will beeffectually removed from the stalk, and the stalk consequently preparedfor the action of the pressing-rollers. This object I accomplish by theuse of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and theinvention consists in certain novel features of the same, hereinafterparticularly pointed out.

In the drawings just referred to, Figure 1 is a plan view of a deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical sectionof the same on the line no 00 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail view ofone of the stripping arms or clamps.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable table or sup porting-fram e, to which I secure a horizontal plate A, having a centralperforation 13, which is re-enforced by a metallic plate or ring 0. Onthe upper side of this plate A, I secure the stripping-clamps D, whichconsist of substantially U shaped springs having their free ends bent soas to cross each other and tending normally to spread apart or separate.I employ two of these springs or strippers, and they each consist of asingle spring wire or rod bent to provide the base or central portion E,the coils F at the ends of the same, and the converging arms G,extending from the said coils. The arms G are carried past each otherand then curved backward a quarter of a turn,so as to form the bends II,which are arranged over the perforation in the plate A, and the ends ofthe arms are then inserted through the keepers I on the said plate A.The central portions or bases of the strippers are secured on the plateA at right angles to each other, and the bends of the arms are thusbrought over the perforation Bin position to clasp the stalk on allsides, as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings.

To the ends of the arms G, I secure the cords or bands J,whichpassinward to points midway between the ends of the arms of eachpair,whence they pass downward through the plate A and under pulleys K Kon the under side of the said plate. The cords are then carried upwardthrough the plate and secured to the inner end of alever L, mounted onthe upper side of the plate. In practice the coils F tend to throw theends of the arms G apart, and thus bring the bends H together. Thisaction of the coils will be sufficient to hold the inner end of thelever depressed; but, if so desired, a spring may be arranged under theouter end of the lever to aid in holding it in the proper position, andthus relieve the tension on the cords.

Then it is desired to use the device, the outer end of the lever isdepressed so as to draw the ends of the arms together through the mediumof the cords, and thus separate the bends in the arms. The stalk is theninserted between the bends, after which the lever is released and thestalk drawn through the perforation B. The spring-arms will clasp thestalk tightly, and as it is drawn past them will positively and rapidlystrip all leaves therefrom, thus preparing it for the pressingrollers.

It is obvious from theforegoingdescription, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, that the stripping-arms automatically adjustthemselves to the diameter or thickness of the stalk, and thatconsequently the device can be operated very rapidly and the stalkstripped very clean. It will be observed that by reason of the bends inthe stripping-arms one pair of arms might be made sufficient; but thestalk would not be stripped so evenly and clean as when two pair areused, and for this reason I prefer to employ the two pair arranged atright angles. Owing to the simplicity of the device, it can arins havingoverlapping bends, thelever, and connections between the lever and theends of the arms, whereby when the lever is de- 15 pressed the bends ofthe arms will be moved apart, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD ROHR.

Witnesses: 1

In. IIEIDENnnIon, LoUIs Rona.

